And with these possibilities Signora Steno was obliged to tranquillize herself as she best might.
She returned home not without some hope that she might find that Paolina had returned during her absence; but such was not the case--Paolina was still absent.

And though it was now some eight or nine hours from the time she had left home, old Orsola had nothing for it but to wait for tidings of her as patiently as she could..